True North Missionaries Journal

Just woke up, still in Calgary after that amazingly fruitful #WTNC2013 #JesusEXPO

First off, God is so great. You have definitely revealed Yourself to me in ways where I myself cannot doubt Your word any more.

I was given the opportunity to be the Production Head for this true north conference, and to be honest, it was quite the road. A lot of tension, stress, sweat, tears and every emotion played out in the last couple months, but along with it, was a lot of prayer.

I guess that’s where God hit me in the face to wake me up. It was so easy to say NO to challenges and trials at first…but after this weekend, seeing all the creatives, all the hard work finally be put into action, there was no doubt in my mind God was telling me,

“Trust in their annointing.”

Praise God we said yes to all the challenges…These creatives and my friends that took part in dedicating time to recreate God’s love stories…those were my Jesus Moments. Imagine if we said no to getting them done, it definitely would not have been as fruitful as it played out to be. To see every one of their faces in excitement, nervousness, etc etc just before they went on stage, but at the same time to all have one vision in reaching the creative mission…beautiful.

So at this time, I would like to acknowledge those who helped me see God in this journey and took part in taking up the creative missionary heart.

First, my counterpart in this Production mission. Emily Dionisio. I’ve known you since highschool and never have we ever shared anything about faith. So Praise God, that in His time, we were able to get the job done and push ourselves beyond our limits. Much thanks for being patient, always joking around when we needed it, and serving with joy. Praise God for you, fellow mission volunteer.

The Creative Heads. Corrina De La Paz, Lorryzel Badajos, Bryan Abas, Kevin Locsin, Jeanine Marte, Renz Florez. You guys really exemplified what it takes to lead with a heart that is all for the Lord and nothing for yourself. All the time, dedication, every single moment and thought that went into the blooming of these specific creatives, really showed how much you poured out God’s love from your cup to everyone else. There were definitely difficult moments, but in those moments, you all allowed God to fill you back up again. PRAISE GOD for you creative missionaries. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Everyone that was in the creatives, opening dance, closing dance, segment producers, stage managers, etc etc…Praise God for taking on a task that is ALL “at the back” service. The small things, big things, victories that came with this weekend, would not have happened with out each and every one of you. I truly saw God work through you guys with every single decision, every single movement, every word said. Continue to say yes to these things. God is building you all up for something so much more.

So yeah, there it is. If you are asking me, “Vince, what did you learn this weekend?” I can only respond with another question,

“What is God telling me to surrender?”

A lot to think about. But at least I can go into answering that question knowing God’s plans are so much better than mine. 

Desiderio Domini

 

It was just this Wednesday that my sister came back from a mission trip with her school to Peru. As she told the family about her experience there, I realized that although her mission trip wasn’t with CFC Youth, the experience of mission was very similar. No, I’m not talking about using the “manual flush” toilets, or not having the luxury of having air conditioning, or having to always carry around wet wipes and rolls of tissue, or having to pay a fee to use public washrooms.

In sharing our experiences with each other, it made me realize more and more that what the world needs isn’t “missionaries” who have been “trained”, but missionaries who live and love. It is a continuous conditioning from the Lord, achieved in His love, that will truly drive mission into the hearts of others. And I believe that this is what we need. What the world needs is the fulfillment of missions. Although each person has a personal vocation to live out, the one mission that we all share is the mission to love.

Ethel was placed in a village named Pacifico de Villa. It isn’t even under the Government’s system because they don’t want to take care of it. So how much of a blessing is it when students like her want to come there for a few weeks to bring support and help build foundations in this village? So inspiring! So when she spoke of her experience in Peru and how it was touching to just hug the children (despite of being told not to come in physical contact with them) and see a smile from the people in her placement, or hearing about the empathy she felt towards the elderly who cried because life was just too hard for them, it made me smile. MISSION BEGINS FROM THE HEART. And because of that, it begins with love. It IS Love. And because God is love, mission begins and continues with the Lord.

Missionaries will be called. They will be trained. They will be placed wherever they are needed, but it doesn’t mean that without missionaries, there is no mission, and it definitely doesn’t mean that without missionaries, we cannot fulfill missions. As children of God, we are born into a unifying mission… A MISSION TO LOVE. “Love one another as I have loved you.”

We are called to LOVE…
without command,
without demand,
and without self.

It is in losing my “self” that I can gain everything, for without loving God in others… without Him, I am nothing. We are called for a mission to love… we are called for a mission to Love.

“I will not bring to the Lord, that which costs me nothing.”
– 1 Chronicles 21: 24

And I could be waiting for all of my days

If I’m hesitating, and listen too late

Then how will I know when Your answer comes?

 

 

—

My Lord Jesus, allow me to be sensitive to Your voice. Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

St. Bernadette Soubirous, pray for us.

Amen.

Tuesday, Aug 13th, was the first time I received the blood of Christ.

Something was calling my heart during the 630pm mass at St. John’s Cantius to go ahead and receive the blood of Christ.

My heart was yearning for it, wanting to experience and celebrate the mass in a whole different level in faith. Why only now? I’m not sure. I think I was scared, too prideful and was not conscious of Him.

Right when the wine hit my lips, my whole being was uplifted and my heart was filled with overwhelming joy. Lord, you are so good. Thank you for loving me and wanting me to have more of you.

This morning, I was able to attend mass at 12:10pm at St. Mary’s Cathedral, and again I was yearning for the body and blood of Christ.

After I received the body of Christ, I lined up for the blood.

The Eucharistic minister said, “the blood of Christ,” and since I was the last person she then whispered, “…make sure you finish it.”

IT HIT ME… THE LORD SPOKE TO ME and WAS OFFERING HIS BLOOD FOR ME PERSONALLY TO FINISH IT!

SIGGGGGHHHHH.

AT that moment, after receiving the blood of Christ, my heart was again overwhelmed with so much joy. I again felt God’s love soooo eminently and while walking back to my pew, I had the biggest smile on my face.

The Lord spoke to me personally and touched my heart so gently, but powerfully saying,

“My child, seek me, find me, yearn for me, and I will give you all of me.”

Wow. Lord you are sooo amazing. You are above all and the most important thing in my life and thank you Mother Mary for bringing me to your son to receive.

May God be Praised.